Ethical Question about Access to Health Care Quiz

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Questions and Answers

According to the passage, what is the major ethical question about access to health care?

Should health care be considered a right or a market commodity?

In the context of social ethics, what does treating healthcare as a right entail?

Equal access to healthcare for everyone in society

Which ethical perspective supports the idea of healthcare as a right based on the greatest good for the greatest number?

Utilitarian ethics

According to Rawlsian notion of justice, what should prevail in the creation of a healthcare system?

Equality, with exceptions for helping the most disadvantaged Signup and view all the answers

What does regarding healthcare as a commodity imply?

Members can only access healthcare if they can pay for it Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary contrast presented in the passage regarding access to healthcare?

Healthcare as a right vs. healthcare as a market commodity Signup and view all the answers

According to the ethical theory typically cited in support of health care as a market commodity, what do Libertarians support?

Reliance on free markets to allocate resources, including health care Signup and view all the answers

What do Libertarians argue about individuals who cannot afford to purchase healthcare?

It is unfortunate, but not unfair Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge in applying market theory to medical care?

Information asymmetry Signup and view all the answers

What does the text identify as a factor that makes free markets work well for many goods and services?

Information symmetry Signup and view all the answers

What do Libertarians propose should significantly reduce the costs of care?

Removal of government involvement and regulation Signup and view all the answers

What do Libertarians believe access to healthcare should be left up to?

Individuals to arrange for themselves or through private insurance companies Signup and view all the answers

Why do Libertarians argue that those who do not want to participate in providing care for those who cannot afford it should not be forced to have their resources confiscated for this purpose?

Individual freedom and choice Signup and view all the answers

What do Libertarians suggest for preventing fraud in the healthcare market?

'Minimal regulation' necessary to prevent fraud Signup and view all the answers

In what way does medical care not fit very well into the dynamics that make free markets work well for many goods and services?

Inherently information asymmetry Signup and view all the answers

What has been widely recognized about medical care in relation to free markets?

Medical care does not fit very well into the dynamics that make free markets work well for many other types of goods and services. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge in applying market theory to medical care?

Information symmetry between patients and healthcare providers Signup and view all the answers

Why are free markets not well-suited for medical care, according to the passage?

Patients have limited knowledge and cannot achieve information symmetry with healthcare providers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern regarding the transparency of healthcare options and costs?

Patients may not have full visibility into the range of available options and costs of care Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage suggest is a significant barrier to achieving information symmetry in healthcare?

The unequal access to medical information between patients and healthcare providers Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, why do free markets tend to work well for many goods and services?

Due to the presence of information symmetry between consumers and sellers Signup and view all the answers

What is the major obstacle in achieving information symmetry between insurance companies and the insured, according to the passage?

The insured does not know in advance all necessary medical interventions covered by insurance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the insurance companies to experience an information disadvantage?

Patients have information about their health risks and needs that the insurance company lacks. Signup and view all the answers

Why has price advertising been limited in the medical field according to the passage?

Physicians and hospitals do not compete to keep costs affordable due to the absence of price advertising. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of the 2019 requirement for hospitals to post their chargemaster lists of prices online?

It has not helped consumers as it does not include actual prices negotiated with insurers. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the market elasticity of demand not work well for medical care, according to the passage?

Patients cannot easily switch to cheaper alternatives when the price of medical care increases. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the major challenges in applying market theory to medical care, based on the passage?

The costs of building and equipping hospitals make it difficult for new suppliers to enter the market. Signup and view all the answers

How do hospitals' non-compliance with the price disclosure rule impact consumers?

Consumers are unable to access actual prices negotiated with insurers. Signup and view all the answers

What prevents ease of market entry for medical care suppliers according to the passage?

The years of training for physicians and the costs of building and equipping hospitals. Signup and view all the answers

What makes it difficult for physicians and hospitals to compete in keeping costs affordable?

The absence of price advertising leads to lack of competition among physicians and hospitals. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it challenging for consumers to understand which separately priced services they would typically need in an episode of care?

The list of prices posted online by hospitals is not organized in a way that allows consumers to understand. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ethical Questions about Access to Healthcare

The major ethical question about access to healthcare is whether healthcare should be treated as a right or a commodity.

Treating Healthcare as a Right

Treating healthcare as a right entails that everyone has equal access to healthcare regardless of their social or economic status.
The ethical perspective that supports the idea of healthcare as a right is based on the greatest good for the greatest number.

Rawlsian Notion of Justice

According to Rawlsian notion of justice, the creation of a healthcare system should prioritize the most disadvantaged members of society.

Healthcare as a Commodity

Regarding healthcare as a commodity implies that it is a service that can be bought and sold in the market, and access to it is dependent on one's ability to pay.

Primary Contrast

The primary contrast presented in the passage regarding access to healthcare is between treating healthcare as a right and treating it as a commodity.

Libertarian Perspective

Libertarians support the idea of healthcare as a market commodity, where individuals are free to purchase healthcare services as they see fit.
They argue that individuals who cannot afford to purchase healthcare should not be forced to rely on others for their care.
Libertarians propose that individuals should be free to choose their own healthcare providers and services, and that costs should be reduced through competition.

Challenges in Applying Market Theory

A challenge in applying market theory to medical care is that medical care does not fit well into the dynamics that make free markets work well for many goods and services.
The main challenge is that consumers lack complete information about healthcare options and costs, making it difficult for them to make informed decisions.

Transparency of Healthcare Options and Costs

The primary concern regarding the transparency of healthcare options and costs is that consumers lack access to complete and accurate information.
The significant barrier to achieving information symmetry in healthcare is the complexity of medical care, which makes it difficult for consumers to understand their options and costs.

Free Markets and Medical Care

Free markets tend to work well for many goods and services because they are driven by supply and demand, and consumers have complete information about their options.
However, free markets are not well-suited for medical care because of the complexity of medical care and the lack of information symmetry between consumers and healthcare providers.
The market elasticity of demand does not work well for medical care because consumers are often unable to make informed decisions about their healthcare options due to lack of information.

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